Quarterly News • June 2003 - Leighton Holdings

Mining team changes ensurecontinued client focusChanges in the Qld/NT/Pacific mining team will ensure a continued focus onmaintaining solid client relationships and providing flexible solutions that supportour clients’ business objectives.“Bob is committed to delivering flexible contractarrangements that assist our clients to meet theiroperational objectives,” he said.“Offering more than 20 years of experience, with thelast seven years concentrating on contract miningprojects, he will continue to work closely with ourclients to maximise the value of our operations.”Bob McKerrow said he was looking forward to thechallenges of his new role.Engineering Manager Bob McKerrow and Mining Manager Mike FaganFormer Operations Manager for the Burtonand South Walker Creek coal projects, BobMcKerrow, has been promoted to EngineeringManager and will be responsible for projectengineering, technical support and businessdevelopment for the Qld/NT/Pacific mining business.Thiess Mining Manager Qld/NT/Pacific Mike Fagansaid the new position was established to meetthe challenges of an increasingly competitivemarketplace.“I intend to further develop the strong relationshipswe have with clients and key business associates,and continue to investigate opportunities that deliverperformance excellence at a competitive price,” he said.Following Bob’s promotion, the mining group hasbeen restructured, with Operations Managers nowresponsible for the following projects:• Burton Coal Project – Rob Monaci;• South Walker Creek Coal Project – Phil Baker;• Oaky Creek Coal Project – Geoff Sengstock; and• Collinsville Coal Project – Brian Spencer. ■Pushing forward at Oaky CreekMay saw the dozer team at the Oaky Creek Open CutCoal Project in Queensland set a new Thiess record formoving overburden.Bulk dozing is a well-established method of movingoverburden and uncovering coal at Thiess’ Collinsvilleand South Walker Creek operations. However, OakyCreek has further refined this method, subsequentlycreating a Thiess record by moving 880,697 bcm ofoverburden in a month.Oaky Creek Operations Manager Geoff Sengstock said,in the right material and configuration, bulk dozingprovided a cost efficient method of moving overburden.“At Oaky Creek, cast blasting is employed and thenbulk dozing, with the last bench of rock being removedby an excavator and truck fleet,” he said.“The overall combination of activities provides the costefficiency.“We first started the system at Oaky Creek in November2002 using only two Caterpillar D11 dozers. Now, wehave seven D11s on site, with five machines regularlyon bulk push.“We are currently moving approximately six millionbcm per month and dozing now represents a significantproportion of our work.” ■19 THIESS